noun

• 1The verb in a main clause.

  ‘An intermediate step is to put the ‘using’ clauses between the object and the main verb, like this.’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Maybe Dickens needed a good sub-editor to remind him that the rules require sentences to contain proper main verbs.’
  • ‘This was ‘translated’ from German, as shown by the placement of the main verb at the end of the sentence.’
  • ‘Notice that verbs in three of the families may also stand alone and be the main verb of a sentence.’
  • ‘The nearer the main verb is to its subject, the easier the sentence is to understand.’

• 2The head of a verb phrase, for example eat in might have been going to eat it.

  ‘The combination of helping verbs with main verbs creates what are called verb phrases or verb strings.’

  More example sentences

  • ‘When writing the rule, always use the base form of the main verb and any auxiliary verbs.’
  • ‘It appears that the semi-modals are hybrid forms, combining characteristics of both main verbs and auxiliary verbs.’
  • ‘In the following examples, helping verbs are underlined and main verbs are shown in color’
  • ‘Find the helping verbs and the main verbs in the sentences.’